Pneumatic cushion



A. C. EGGERS.

PNEUMATIC cusmow. APPLICATION FILED AUG-10,1915.

Patented June 15, 1920.

WITNESS: INVENTOB y W Anion GEgyem;

WWW HIS ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON C. EGGERS, OF BROOKLYN, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR/S INDIA RUBBER GLOVE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

PNEUMATIC CUSHION.

Patented J line 15, 1920.

Application filed August 10, 1915. Serial No. 44,815.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON .C. Eeenn's, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of 'New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Cushions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to pneumatic cushions, more particularly annular surgical cushions especially adapted for the use of persons suffering from k1dney, bladder, and similar disorders, in which frequent urination is necessary. In many cases it is 1mpracticable to move the patient, and to per mit these uses the cushion should be so arranged that the patient seated thereon may evacuate the bladder without substantial change of position and without soiling the cushion.

It is the object of this invention to produce a cushion adapted to the uses above set forth, and I accomplish my object by building the cushion in the form of a segmental annulus open at the front, the rear and side portions being of sufficient extent to provide adequate supportingarea for the user, the two ends being separated enough.

so that there is no interference with the functions mentioned above. Inasmuch as the cushion is made of flexible material it is cushion made according to this invention,

and

I Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partly broken away.

To construct my cushion I assemble the various parts substantially as is done in all built-up hollow rubber articles. Unvulcanized rubber-coated fabric is cut into the proper shape and the pieces joined by rubber cement about their margins 5, which are preferably reinforced on the inside by fab ric strips 6.

To prevent spreading of the ends of the segmental annulus thus formed I preferably attach about the inner margin an inflexible rod 7 the securing means consisting of a strip of rubberized fabric 8 passed about the rod 7 and over-lapping the margin-of the cushion. A valve 9 is provided at any suitable place in the wall of the cushion as, for instance, midway of the outer marginal seam 5. The parts are then joined by vulcanization, the heat causing the rubber of the various elements to unite into an integral structure.

For the element 7 I have found a bent metal rod the most satisfactory, but any strong substantially inflexible material may be used, and I do not wish to limit myself to any particular material. Neither do- 1 wish to be understood as limiting myself to the location of the retaining element shown in the drawings as it may equally well be secured to any part of the wall of the bag, except those portions which touch the body of a person seated thereon.

A cushion made according to the above description cannot spread or straighten by the internal pressure when inflated, or by the weight or movements of the user, the inflexible element 7 acting to maintain cushion in the proper form.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. A flexible pneumatic cushionv adapted .to be placed on a seat to support a person in sitting or reclining position, embodying vulcanized rubber and being in shape substantially a segmental, annulus to form a closure for an entirely unrestricted centrally disposed space or opening of substantially circular contour and having its free ends separated to provide an uninterrupted space located at the front of the cushion of a width substantially the diame ter of the opening, a valve for inflating the cushion located beyond the portions adapted to be in direct contact with the occupant and supporting seat, a casement vulcanized to the inner circumference of said annulus and terminating short of the -free ends thereof,

and a rigid segmental annulus disposed in the vulcanized rubber and being in shape substantially a segmental annulus to form a closure for an entirely unrestricted centrally disposed space or opening of substantially circular contour and having its free ends separated to provide an uninterrupted space located at the front of the direct contact with the occupant and supa rigid segmental annulus distortion of the fixed relation beporting seat, and' in said casement to prevent annulus and to maintain a tween said spaced ends while maintaining the space at the front of the cushion uninterrupted.

8. A flexible pneumatic cushion embodying vulcanized rubber and being in shape substantially a segmental annulus, having its free ends separated to provide an uninterrupted space located at the front of the cushion, a casement vulcanized to the inner circumference of said annulus, a rigid segmental member disposed in said casement to maintain fixed relation between the spaced ends of the cushion while maintaining the space at the front of the same .uni.'lterrupted, and a valve for inflating the cushion.

Signed at Brooklyn,

ANTON C.- EGGERS.

county of Kings, and. State of New York, this 5thday of August, 

